Lowering device.



J. T. BOUFFORD.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

sisi Illlllulll LOWERING DEVICE. APPLICATION ILED 113.25, 1913v llfllllllllllllluuumlmlmml Y A mmm JOSEPH T. BOUFFOR'D, oF LINwooD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOWERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang?. 26.1913..

Application filed February 25, 1913. Serial No. 750,668.

To (77/ /c/zom- 'if may concern lle it known that l, .losurit T. Bott'rronn, a subject oit the KingotGreatllritain.residin eat Linwood, in the county ot 7Worcesvter and State oft h/Iassachusetts, have invented new and useful linproveinents in Lowering Devicesv`v ot' which the followingr is a specification.'

This invention relates to lowering7 devices. the device of thisI invention being especially designed fol' lise as a tire-escape to enable persons to lower themselves from high places to the ground in perfect safety, and at a speed which may be regulated to suit the desire ot the nninutacturer. The apparatus hereinafter described is also adapted tor use in connection with elevators 'l'or handling passengers and Jfreight of all kinds. the device being so combined with an elevatoi.' that in case the operatingsupporting' cables ot' the elevator break. said device will be thrown into action and allow the elevator to descend at a limited and sate rate` tion through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 3 2), ot' Fig'. 2. Fig. -t is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line lm-l et Fig. 2.

rl`he lowering' device contemplated in this invention comprises a traine. l.. consisting', in the prei'erred einlmdiment ot the invention, ol" a pair ot' oppositely located housing or casing platesv 2 which' are spaced at ay suitable distance apart, and tied and braced. together in any suitable manner. so as to accommodate the gearingv and other meehanism, hereinafter particularly described, thereby protecting such mechanism and ren-y dering-the device comparative-ly weather and dirtproof.

t-ldesignates an endless flexible eable,such as a rope, which passesin opposite directions around a pair of actuating pulleys 4 and 5, as' shown in Fig. 17 the cable 3 also passing around a guiding` sheave 6 which causes the cable to pass t'ora sutlcient distance around the circumference ot' the ad jacently lying actuating pulley to insure the proper frictional engagretnciit of the ca,- ble with said pulley. ln this way, the end less cable 3 is adapted to drive beth or the actuating' pulleys 4 and 5.

rl`he actuating pulleys 4; and are inon'nged tast on parallel shafts 7 and 8 'which also have mounted tast thereon a pair of interineshingr spur gear wheels 9 and 1() of the saine size and number el teeth. in order that both of the shafts 7 and S may be driven at equal speeds in opposite dir tions. By reason of the construction just rcl'erred to` a slight slippage of the cable i on either oi the pulleys` -l and will make-no dilten ence in the operation otv the devicet as a whole, as one pulley is adapted to drive the other under the arrangement described.

Mounted within the traine is a pair ot oppositel)v arranged sliding' cross heads ll. and 12, the saine being' movable lengthwise olf tht frame. as shown in Fig'. Q, and each otsaid cross heads being provided with a slot lll extending vilierpendicularly to the 'path ot movement oi the cross heads, the Slot 123 reeeiving a wrist pin 14: projecting` troni oneside ot' the respective gearwheel fl or 1t) and \\"orkinfr back and forth lengthwise ot' such slot,\\'l1ereb v the rotary motion olf each gear wheel l) and 1t) is imparted to the corre sponding sliding,Y cross head 12.

Arranged in opposition to each other and atopposite endsl ot' the traine are pneumatic cheeks 15 and 1G. each ot which ccunprise.j an air cylinder 1T and a piston 1S, working` therein. the cylinder 17 being provided ad jacent to its opposite ends with small perforationsl '19 and Q0, so' that. in the reciproca` tory movement of the piston therein. air will be admitted to and expelled 'trom the cylinder. the size of the pertorations` l() and 2U being governed by the load to be imposed upon the cable 8- and -thedesiretl rate ot' speed at which it is proposed to have the load descend on the cable. The pistons 1S of the opposed cylinders 'are connected bv the pistons 18, this beingl important lor the.

f La eascn that when the Wrist pin 111 of one of the Wheels 9 and 10 is aboutmidway of the slot 13, in which it-travels, there will be comparatively no resistance to the rotation of said Wheel. At such a time, the Wrist pin 14 of the other Wheel is moving in the end portion of the slot of its cross head, Where the greatest resistance to the rotation of that- Wheel Will be obtained. This overcomes any irregular and jerking motion to which the load on the cable 3 would be subjected were the pins 14; so located With respect to the Wheels 9 and 10 as to arrive at the central portions of the slots 13 simultaneously.

The frame 1 is shown as provided With attaching lugs 22, by means of which it may be -secured to or suspended from any suit-- able fixed support.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lowering device, a frame, an endless cable, pulleys around which said cable passes in opposite directions, and pneumatic checks operatively .geared to said pulleys and each embodying an air cylinder and piston, the pistons being geared to the pulleys so as to operate out of synchronism.

2. In a' lowering device, a trame, double opposed sliding cross heads mounted to reciprocate in said frame and guidedthere by, oppositely arranged pneumatic checks each embodying an air cylinder and a piston workingthcrein, rods connecting said pistons With the cross heads, an endless cable, pulleys around which said cable passes, parallel shafts on which said pulleys are fastened, intermeshing gear wheels also fast on said shafts, and Wrist pins on said goal.

Wheels engaging the cross heads.

3. In a lowering device, a iframe, double opposed sliding cross heads mounted to reciprocate in said 'frame and guided thereby, oppositely arranged pneumatic checks each embodying an air cylinder and a piston working therein,. rods connecting said pistons with the cross heads, an endless cable,

pulleys around which said cable passes, parallel shafts on which said pulleys are fastened, intermeshing gear ivheels also fast on said shafts, and Wrist pins on said gear Wheels engaging the cross heads and arranged approximately at a quarter of a revolution. apart.

In testimony Whereotl I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH T. BGUFFORD.

IVitnesscs:

IosAisNa Iourronn, J. Emme BROWN. 

